Electric fan.



w. M. McEWEN. ELECTRIC FAN.

APPLICATION FILED IAY19| I915- Patented Jan. 30,1917.

ings, in

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD M. MOEWEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GUSTAI OLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND ONE'THIRD TO LOUIS GBEENBEBG, OFKOKOIO,

INDIANA.

ELECTRIC FAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30,1917.

Application filed May 19, 1915. Serial No. 29,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be known that I, WILLARD M. 'MoEwEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Fans, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved mechanism for electric, fans adapted to vary the angle of the air current simultaneously in two different planes, as, for example, oscillating the fan in a horizontal plane and at the same time tilting it up and down in a vertical plane; and to provide improved means for regulating the oscillatory movement of the fan.

An illustrative embodiment of this inven tit-n is shown in the accompanying drawwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly sectional of an electric fan equipped with the improved v sectiontaken on the line AA of Fig. 1.

In the constructionshown in thedrawings, the blower mechanism comprises a fan 1, connected to a motor-.2 rotatably mounted in a casing 3, and tiltably supported on a member or shaft 4 jo'urnaled in a supporting member or base 5. The fan 1 and motor 2 may be of any desired construction, the fan being provided with the usual protecting guard 6 supported on the motor casing 3 by means of arms 7.

The motor casing 3 is connected to the shaft 4 by a lug 8 formed on "theunder side of the casing, which is received in the bifurcated head 9 of said shaft and pivotally connected thereto by a stud shaft 10. The blower mechanism is thereby supported so as to be tilted in a plane of the-axis of said shaft. A suitable connection 11 is attached to the end of-the shaft 4 for securing-the shaft against upward longitudinal movement in the member 5.

A sleeve or member 12 embraces the shaft 4- and is rotatably supported on the base 5 by means of ball bearings 13, so that it will freely rotate independently of the shaft 4.

The member 12 is provided with an integral transversely disposed annular flange or track 14 concentrically arranged with respectto said shaft. This flange is of wave-like con- :94 motion with the crowns and depressions ol' the wave disposed diametrically QPPO- 16 meshes.

mechanism. Fig. 2 1s a transverse site. Gear teeth 15 are formed on the periphery of the track so as to provide an annular rack or gear with which the pinion Rollers 17 journaled on trunnions 18 carried by the lug 8 engage the track 14 at diametrically opposite oints, and coacting with the crowns and epressions thereof, cause the fan 1 to tilt up and down in a vertical plane.

The pinion 16 is carried on a shaft 19 ournaled in the casing 3 and connected to the motor shaft by means of a worm 20 and gear 21.

The rotation or oscillation of the shaft 4 on the base 5 may be limited by the coaction of a groove 22 and a pin 23. The groove 22 is formed in the shaft 4 eccentrically of the axis thereof, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The pin 23 is mounted i the base 5, and is normally urged by a spring 24 to enter the groove 22. An adjusting pin 25 is also screwed into the member 5, so as to adjust the tension of the spring 24 on the pin 23 and thereby regulate the. outward movement of the pin 23 as caused by the approach of the shallow portions of the groove 22.

This specific construction provides an oscillatory fan which is caused to oscillate back and forth in a horizontal plane by rea' son of its being tilted up and down in a ver tical plane, the movements occurring in the following manner: As the motor 2 operates the fan 1, the pinion 16 engaging-the rack 15 causes a relative rotation of the sleeve 12 and the shaft 4. This rotation of-the sleeve backward oscillations being respectivelyof unequal angularity dependingJ uponthe direction of rotation of the fan ladeswith respect thereto, and the backward orcounterclockwise oscillation occurs duringthe u-pward tilt. Theoretically, the forward Joscillation of thefan shouldbegin at themstant the fun begins the. downward tilt, and likewise should begin the backward oscil- Ilation at-the instant the upward tilt begins, but due to the momentum of thefanthe re- The i forward p on said member,

versal of the oscillations is delayed momentarily after the commencement of the downward and upward tilt respectively.

The angularity of theloscillations may be controlledby the action of the pin 23 and the groove 22. The shallow portions of the groove approach the pin 23 and cause it to recede and compress the spring 24 and thereby gradually retard and finally arrest the oscillation of the fan. As soon as the fan begins the reverse tilting movement the oscillation is also reversed. The points in the groove 22 at which the arrestin of the oscillation of the shaft becomes 6 ective may be adjusted by means of the pin 25. However, if itis desired to allow the fan to ,oscillate unrestricted the pin 25 may be retracted to such an extent that the pin 23 is inefiective in its engagement with the groove 22, to arrest the rotation of the member 4. When the pins are thus retracted the angularity of the forward and backward swings of the blower mechanism will become unequal, as hereinbefore explained, with the result that the blower mechanism will revolve around and around in-a circle with res ect to the supporting member at the same time thatit is-being intermittently swung back and forth and tilted up and down.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. The combination of a support, amember journaled on said support so as to be normally free to rotate thereon at all times, motor-driven mechanism tiltably mounted and coa'cting means on said motor-driven mechanism and member adapted to tilt said motor-driven mechanism in a plane transverse to the pivotal connectlgn of said motor-driven mechanism and member, whereby gyratory forces are set up so as to cause the oscillation of said member and motor-driven mechanism relative to said support.

The combination of'a support, a member journaled on said support so as to be normally free to rotate thereon at all times motor-driven mechanism tiltably mounted on said' member, coacting means on said motor-driven mechanism and member adaptedvto tilt said" motor-driven mechanism in a plane transverse to' the pivotal connectlon of said motor 'drlven mechanism and member, whereby gyratory forces are set. up so as to cause the oscillation of said member and motor-driven mechanism relat ve to said support, and meansfor controlling the angularity of the oscillation of said member on said support.

3. The combination of a support, a pair of members journaled on said support both normally free to rotate at all times relative to said support and to each other, motordriven mechanism tiltably mounted on one of said members, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said members, and coacting means on said motor-driven mechanism and the other said member adapted to tilt said motor-driven mechanism in a plane transverse to the pivotal connection of said otor-driven mechanism and member, whereby gyratory forces are set up so as to cause the oscilla-' tion of said one member and motor-driven mechanism relative to said support.

4. The combination of a support, a pair of members journaled on said support both normally free to rotate at all times relative to said support and to each other, motor-driven mechanism tiltably mounted on one of said members, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said members, coacting means on said motordriven mechanism and the other said member adapted to tilt said motor-driven mechanism in a'plane transverse to the pivotal connection of said motor-driven mechanism and member, whereby gyratory forces are set up so as to cause the oscillation of said one member and motor-driven mechanism relative to said support, and means for controlling the angularity of the oscillation of one said member with respect to said support.

5. The combination of a support, a pair of members journaled on said support so as to be capable of rotating relatively to each other, motor driven mechanism tiltably mounted on one of said members, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said members, coacting means .on said motor driven mechanism and on the other said 'member adapted to tilt said motor driven mechanism in the plane of the axis of rotation of said members and thereby cause the oscillation of said onemember relative to said support, a shoulder on one of said members, and means on said support .adapted' to engage said-shoulder for controlling the oscillation. of said one member.

6. In an aircirculating device, the combination of a support, blower mechanism mounted so as 'to normally be free to oscillate horizontally thereon at all times, and mechanism for tiltin said blower mechanism vertically where y gyratory forces are set up so as to cause the horizontal oscillaas to be normally free to rotate at all times, blower mechanism tiltably mounted on said shaft, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said member and shaft, and coacting means on said blower mechanism and member adapted to tilt said blower mechanism in a plane transverse to the axis of the pivotal connection of said blower mechanism and shaft, whereby gyratory forces will be set up so as to cause the oscillation of said shaft and blower mechanism relative to said support.

8. In an air circulating device, the combination of a support, a shaft journaied thereon so as to always be free to rotate, a member also journaled on said support so as to be normally free to' rotate at all times, blower mechanism tiltably mounted on said shhft, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said member and shaft, coactiiig means on' said blower mechanism and member adapted to tilt said blower mechanism in" a plane transverse to the axis of the pi 'otal connection of said blower mechanisnkand shaft, whereby gyratory forces will e set up so as to cause the oscillation of said shaft and blower mechanism relative to said support, and means for controlling the angularity of the oscillation of said shaft with respect to said support.

9. In an air circulating device, the com bination of a support, a shaft journaled thereon so as to always be free to rotate, a member journaled on said support and embracing said shaft and also normally free to rotate at all times relative to said support and to said shaft, a wavelike track formed on said member, motor-driven mechanism tilt ably mounted on said shaft, a rack formed on said track, a pinion engaging said rack and connected to said motor-driven blower mechanism so as to cause a relative rotation of said member and shaft. and rollers carried by said motor-driven blower mechanism and engaging said track and adapted to tilt said blower mechanism whereby gyratory forces are set up so as to cause the oscillation of said shaft and blower mechanism with respect to said support.

10. In an air circulating device, the combination of a support, a shaft journaled thereon, a member rotatably mounted on said support, blower mechanism tilt-ably mounted on said shaft, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said member and shaft, coacting means on said blower mechanism and said member adapted to tilt said blower mechanism in the plane of the axis of said shaft whereby said shaft will be caused to oscillate relative to said support, said shaft having an annular groove formed therein. and a shoulder on said support entering said groove so as to engage the ends thereof for limiting the oscillation of said shaft.

support, said shaft having an annular groove formed therein eccentrically of the axis thereof, and a pin carried by said support entering said groove and adapted to coact with the shallow portions thereof for limiting the oscillation of said shaft.

12. In an air circulating device, the combination of a support, a shaft journaled thereon, a member rotatably mounted on said support, blower mechanism tiltably mounted on said shaft, driving mechanism connected to cause a relative rotation of said member and shaft. coacting means on said blower mechanism and said member adapted to tilt said blower mechanism in the plane of the axis of said shaft whereby said shaft 'will be caused to oscillate relative to saidsupport,

said shaft having an annular'groove formed therein eccentricallv of the axis thereof, a pin carried by said support entering saidgroove and adapted to coact with the shallow portions thereof for limiting the oscil lation of said shaft, and means for adjusting said pin so as to vary the point of its engagement with the shallow portions-oi said groove."

'13. An air circulating device, comprising a supporting member, motor driven blower mechanism mounted thereon, mechanism for causing a relative rotation of said blower mechanism and said supporting member, and coacting means adapted to effect the tilting of said blower mechanism in one direction during the relative rotation of the latter and said supporting member, said coacting means being so adjusted anti-frictionallv as to permit the action of gravity to effect the tilting of said blower mechanism in an opposite direction during said rotation.

14. An air circulating device, comprising a supporting member, motor driven blower mechanism tiltably mounted thereon. meclianism for causing a relative rotation of s-nd blower mechanism and said supporting member, and coacting means on said blower mechanism and said supporting member adapted to eflect a tilting of said blower mechanism in one direction during the relative rotation of said blower mechanism and said supporting member. said coacting means being so, adiusted anti-frictionallv as to permit the action of gravity to effect the tilting of said blower mechanism in the opposite direction during said rotation.

15. An air circulating device, comprising a supporting member, blower mechanism tiltably mounted thereon, a smooth annular track of wave-like form on said supporting member, a roller carried by said blower mechanism and adapted to bear on said track, and mechanism operatively connecting said blower mechanism with said track and adapted to cause the relative rotation of said blower mechanism and said supporting member and thereby effect the movement of said roller over the upwardly inclined portion of said track so as to tilt said blower.

mechanism inone direction, and the tilting of said blower mechanism in they opposite direction being effected by the action of, gravity thereon.

16. The combination of a tiltably mounted member and a rotatably mounted flange of wave-like form, a rotative member having driving connection with the annular edge of said flange, a motor connected with said r0- tative member, and a roller on said tiltably mounted member and bearing on said flange.

17. The combination of a supporting member, a motor tiltably mounted thereon, an annular track of wave-like form rotatably mounted on said supporting member, a rotative member having driving connection with the annular edge of said track, mechanism operatively connecting said vrotative member with said motor, and'a roller on said motor and bearing on said track.

18. The combination of a supporting member. a motor tiltably mounted thereon, an annular track of wave-like form on said supporting member, said track being provided ZllOIlIld its annular edge with rackteeth, a pinion carried by said motor and meshing with said rack-teeth, mechanism operatively connecting said pinion with said motor, and. a roller mounted on said motor and having bearing on said track. 19. The combination of a supporting member, a motor rotatably and tiltably mounted thereon, an annular track of Wavelike form on said supporting member and, provided around its annular edge with rackteeth, a pinion carried by said motor and meshing with said rack-teeth, mechanism operatively connecting said pinion with said motor, and a roller carried by said motor and bearing on said track.

20. The combination of a supporting member, a wave-like track mounted thereon and having rack-teeth on its annular edge,

a shaft journaled in said supporting member and arranged concentric to said track, a motor tiltably mountedonsaid shaft, a pinion carried by said motor and meshing with said rack-teeth, a roller on said motor and bearing on said annular track, mechanism connecting said pinion with said motor avliereby said motor is adapted to cause relative rotation of said shaft and track, and

a: stop member on said supporting member and adapted to engage said shaft for limitingthe degree of rotation thereof.

.connecting said pinion with said motor whereby said motor willefi'ect the relative rotation of said shaft and track,said shaft being provided with a transversely ar ranged slot, and a stop member on said supporting member and having a spring-pressed plunger adapted to project into said slot.

22. An air circulating device, comprising a supporting member, motor-driven blower mechanism revolubly mounted thereon, coacting means on said supporting member and said blower mechanism connected so as to be operated by said motor and thereby actuate said blower mechanism so that it will rotate to a certain extent in one direction with respect to said supporting member, will then rotate to a less extent in the opposite direction, and will again rotate in said first direction.

23. An air circulating device. comprising a supporting member, motor-driven blower mechanism revolubly and tiltably mounted thereon, and coacting means on said supporting member and said blower mechanism connected so as to be operated by said motor. and thereby tilt said blower mechanism up and down in one plane, whereby said blower mechanism will rotateto a certain extent in one direction with respect to said supporting member, will then rotate to a less extent in the opposite direction, and will again rotate in said first direction.

Signed at Chicago this 17th day of May, 1915.

WILLARD M. MCEWEN. 

